ness in the university, he preached every Lord's day in the church,
with such fervency and demonstration of the Spirit, that he became the
instrument of converting many to God. About this time he also wrote
several commentaries on different passages of scripture. His exposition
of the epistles to the Romans and Ephesians, coming into the hands of
the learned Beza, he wrote to a friend of his, telling him, That he had
an incomparable treasure, which for its judiciousness, brevity and
elegance of style had few equals.

He was chosen moderator to the assembly held at Dundee, _anno_ 1567,
wherein matters went not altogether in favours of Presbytery; but this
cannot be imputed to him, although Calderwood in his history, page 403.
calls him "a man simple in matters of the church," He was one of those
commissioned by the assembly to wait on his majesty about seating the
churches of Edinburgh, but in the mean time he sickened, and was
confined to his house. Afterwards, at the entreaty of his friends, he
went to the country for the benefit of the air; at first he seemed as if
growing better, but his distemper soon returned upon him with greater
violence than before: This confined him to his bed. He committed his
wife (for he had no children) to the care of his friends. He desired two
noblemen, who came to visit him, to go to the king, and intreat him in
his name to take care of religion and preserve it to the end, and that
he would esteem and comfort the pastors of the church; for the ministry
of Christ, though low and base in the eyes of men, yet it should at
length shine with great glory. When the ministers of Edinburgh came to
him, he spoke of the sincerity of his intentions in every thing done by
him, in discharge of the duties belonging to the office with which he
had been vested. As night drew on, his distemper increased, and together
therewith his religious fervor was likewise augmented. When the
physicians were preparing some medicines, he said, "Thou, Lord, wilt
heal me;" and then began, praying for the pardon of his sins through
Christ, and professed that he counted all things but dung for the cross
of Christ. He prayed farther, that he might have the presence of God in
his departure, saying, "Hitherto have I seen thee darkly, through the
glass of thy word: O Lord, grant that I may have the eternal enjoyment
of thy countenance, which I have so much desired and longed for;" and
then spoke of the resurrection and eternal